Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



E. A. TURPIN. BREBGH LOADING ORDNANCE.

No. 36,625. Patented Aug. 26, 1662.

TQQ my J7 v e 2150/ 7%. I Wgfzzesses;

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

E. A. TUEPTN, or NEW YORK, n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specication forming'part of Letters Patent No. 36,325, dated August 26, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. A. TURPIN, of the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement The nature of my invention consists in closing the breech of a piece of ordnance or other firearm by means of an axial plug inserted from the rear, fitting at its front end a' seat in the breech, and secured by` a tapering pin or wedge, which passes transversely through the breech and plug, as will be hereinafter eX- plained. f

Though especially designed for cannon, my invention is also applicable to small-arms.

To enable others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to make and use the same, I will proceed, to describe its construction and operation' as applied to cannon.

A represents the main body of the gun, which is bored completely through from end to end, and formed at back with an enlarged cylindrical chamber to receive an axial plug, B, which is inserted from the rear. The general form of the plug B is cylindrical; but it is formed with a conical end, which fits a seat at the front end of the enlarged chamber, as seen at b.

aaare two coincident slots in the sides of the vbreeclrch amber.

the trunnions. and V the withdrawn. The charge is then inserted from the rear through the enlarged chamber and into the smaller part of the bore. The plug B is then replaced and the key C driven in so as to force the end of the plug firmly home against its seat. The gun is then ready for firing.

It will be apparent that the expansion of the gun, caused by its repeated discharge, will not impair the tight-ness of the joint in the rear ofthe charge, because every time the plug is inserted it is forced tightly home against its seat by the action of the key. The sides of the plug and chamber are made of cylindrical form to permit the plug to be thus forced up against the seat, and also to permit the plug to be turned upon its axis, by which means its end may be ground upon the seat whenever needful to make it fit tightly.

The slots a a and b are so placed as to afford bearing for the key against the back end of the former and the front end of the latter, as

before,stated;but the slots a extend a suffi- A cient distance forward and the slot b a sufficient distance backward to vprovide for the setting up of the plug as its end and the seat wear away. The front of the slot b is made convex, as shown, to facilitate the inserting of the key and to cause its inclined edge to bear against the center of the plug.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Closing the breech of a piece of ordnance or other form of fire-arm by means of au axial plug having a smooth cylindrical surface and a conical end fitting a corresponding seat in the breech of the gun, the said plug being adapted to be turned upon itsl seat and held` firmly in contact therewith by means of a tapering key or wedge, C, passing transversely through the breech and plug, all as herein shown ami described, for. the purposes setl forth.

The above specification of my improvements.

in breeclrloading ordnance signed this 12th day of February, 1862.

E. A. TUEPIN.

Witnesses:

EDM. F. BROWN, JAMES I-I. GRIDLEY. 

